Techniques for generating a bone plate design

1. A method of generating a data set that geometrically defines a bone plate design for a bone plate with a plurality of fixation openings configured to receive a fixation member for fixing the bone plate to bone, the method comprising:

accessing data indicative of a maxillofacial anatomy of a patient and generating a three-dimensional preoperative model of said anatomy using said data;

simulating an osteotomy on the preoperative model to generate a three-dimensional modified model, the simulated osteotomy defining first and second bone cuts that results in a second bone portion separated from a first bone portion, the osteotomy resulting in an absence of the maxillofacial anatomy coupling the first and second bone portions together;

defining, on the modified model, a first plurality of fixation openings on the first bone portion and a second plurality of fixation openings on the second bone portion, wherein the first and second plurality of fixation openings are defined on the modified model based on shape data of the maxillofacial anatomy such that at least a spacing distance between the first plurality of fixation openings is different from a spacing distance between the second plurality of fixation openings; and

determining a monolithic three-dimensional structure for the bone plate that couples the first and second plurality of fixation openings in the modified model, wherein the monolithic three-dimensional structure for the bone plate has a shape that varies in each of three dimensions to arrange the second bone portion relative to the first bone portion in accordance with a desired post-operative orientation, each of the plurality of first and second fixation openings corresponding to an aperture in the bone plate for receipt of a fixation member.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a monolithic three-dimensional structure for a surgical guide from resection data input created by the simulated osteotomy.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

using the surgical guide to create at least one of the first and second bone cuts.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional structure for the surgical guide defines an inner surface that varies in each of three dimensions, wherein the inner surface has a shape that aligns with an outer surface defined by at least a portion of the first bone portion.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional structure for the bone plate is configured such that the inner surface aligns with the outer surface at a single position in three-dimensional space.

6. The method of claim 1 , mapping the first and second plurality of fixation openings to corresponding locations on the preoperative model.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

deriving, responsive to a user interaction signal that is indicative of a user interaction relative to the modified model, plate design data representative of a plate-specific design property, wherein deriving the plate design data comprises determining, from the user interaction signal, one or more points relative to the bone model.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the one or more points are representative of at least one of a center position of at least one fixation opening of the first and second plurality of fixation openings, and a position or orientation of at least one plate segment interconnecting two fixation openings of the first and second plurality of fixation openings.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein deriving the plate design data comprises determining a relationship between a pointer and the modified model.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the plate design data comprises the one or more points, and wherein the one or more points are determined in a coordinate system associated with at least one of the modified model and the shape data.

11. A method of generating a data set that geometrically defines a bone plate design for a bone plate with a plurality of fixation openings configured to receive a fixation member for fixing the bone plate to bone, the method comprising:

accessing data indicative of a maxillofacial anatomy of a patient and generating a three-dimensional preoperative model of said anatomy using said data;

simulating an osteotomy on the preoperative model to generate a three-dimensional modified model, the simulated osteotomy defining first and second bone cuts that results in a second bone portion separated from a first bone portion, the osteotomy resulting in an absence of the maxillofacial anatomy coupling the first and second bone portions together;

deriving, responsive to a user interaction signal that is indicative of a user interaction relative to the modified model, plate design data representative of a first plurality of fixation openings on the first bone portion and a second plurality of fixation openings on the second bone portion, wherein the first and second plurality of fixation openings are defined on the modified model based on shape data of the maxillofacial anatomy such that at least a spacing distance between the first plurality of fixation openings is different from a spacing distance between the second plurality of fixation openings; and

determining a monolithic three-dimensional structure for the bone plate that couples the first and second plurality of fixation openings in the modified model, wherein the monolithic three-dimensional structure for the bone plate has a shape that varies in each of three dimensions to arrange the second bone portion relative to the first bone portion in accordance with a desired post-operative orientation, each of the plurality of first and second fixation openings corresponding to an aperture in the bone plate for receipt of a fixation member.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining a monolithic three-dimensional structure for a surgical guide from resection data input created by the simulated osteotomy.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

using the surgical guide to create at least one of the first and second bone cuts.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the three-dimensional structure for the surgical guide defines an inner surface that varies in each of three dimensions, wherein the inner surface has a shape that aligns with an outer surface defined by at least a portion of the first bone portion.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the three-dimensional structure for the bone plate is configured such that the inner surface aligns with the outer surface at a single position in three-dimensional space.

16. The method of claim 11 , mapping the first and second plurality of fixation openings to corresponding locations on the preoperative model.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein deriving the plate design data comprises determining, from the user interaction signal, one or more points relative to the bone model.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more points are representative of at least one of a center position of at least one fixation opening of the first and second plurality of fixation openings, and a position or orientation of at least one plate segment interconnecting two fixation openings of the first and second plurality of fixation openings.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein deriving the plate design data comprises determining a relationship between a pointer and the modified model.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plate design data comprises the one or more points, and wherein the one or more points are determined in a coordinate system associated with at least one of the modified model and the shape data.